Had a great day off yesterday despite the drizzle and gloomy skies. I had some appointments, and then I got to spend some time with my little peanut who is getting cuter by the minute if that’s possible!

Ok, time for a little rant. Haven’t done one of these in awhile - so bear with me. One of the “other” weather services out there is calling this northeast storm a “snow-a-cane” or “hurricane-like”…Look, I love to get excited about storms, and sometimes get a little carried away when I talk about weather, but COME ON! You guys know better. This is irresponsible. First off, there is NOTHING TROPICAL about this storm. More importantly, winds will be nowhere near sustained at 74 mph. Will we get strong gusts? Yes, absolutely. 40-50 mph gusts…It’s a Nor’easter, or a strong coastal storm, but not THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT! This is going to be a little bit of a tricky sucker to forecast as well since we don’t have a lot of cold air in place at the surface along the coast, so there’s going to be some change-over from rain to sleet to snow. Coastal New England is going to see mainly rain. Upstate NY, interior sections of New England, PA, and New Jersey could see some impressive snow totals, but not nearly the amounts that we saw in those last storms across D.C. and Philly.

So, of course, it’s not going to be fun for those who are storm weary…but, this is winter, and unfortunately, this is one of those years where some areas are just getting a rough ride.

We’re knee-deep in health care coverage right now, so I’m on standby here in the weather center. And since I’m sharing a bit of an opinion on this blog this morning, I thought I would throw my two cents in about what I know regarding socialized health care. I grew up in Canada, as you know, and for most of my life the health care system worked for me. When I got sick, I went to the doctor – they wrote out a prescription and sent me on my way. I was never hospitalized during my youth, so basically I was a healthy gal. We had a healthcare card that was issued, and we would just use that when we needed to see a doctor or hospital. 5 years ago I was diagnosed with MS. I was in Canada on vacation with my husband when I had my first major symptoms of the disease (numbness under my feet and thighs, extreme fatigue), and went to a local clinic to be looked at. I remember the doctor listening to my symptoms and saying to me “Look – you could have anything from a slipped disc to Multiple Scleoris…I can’t do much for you right now, so you need to go back to the U.S, and see a doctor right away so they can get you an MRI. You’d be on a waiting list here in Canada to get an MRI. That’s my advice.”

I couldn’t believe my ears! This random doctor saying I could have MS??? How ridiculous! However, I did come back to the U.S, and did get those MRIS within a week that quickly confirmed that indeed, I had lesions on my brain and spine. I was then given a spinal tap, which also confirmed I had the “markers” of MS. Bottom line here, I’m not sure I would’ve been diagnosed with MS as quickly if I was still in Canada.

This is just my experience, and I’m certainly no expert on healthcare, but having lived in the U.S for over a decade, I do believe I’ve been privy to the best healthcare and doctors in the world. I’m also very very lucky that I work at a wonderful company that provides me with excellent healthcare insurance. The drugs for MS are very expensive. If I didn’t have insurance, there’s no way I could afford these drugs. There are no easy answers here, but I felt it was important to talk about my experiences as a person who has had “socialized healthcare” in the past.

I’m nervous just like everyone else who is wondering what is going to happen to our healthcare going forward. I do hope our legislators are not hasty, and take their time to “diagnose” what the problems are and how to fix or improve the system without hurting everyone.

A bit of an update on the Blog Upgrade – looks like it will take place sometime next week now, so things will stay the same for now!

23 Comments

David (USAF WX)

Hey Janice,
I totally agree with you about this silly snow-acain. I read about it the other day on Accuweather's website. I guess a storm with 70mph winds in the NE deserves the be sesationalized by them. I hate it when you all have that one guy on there that yells at us. Storms like this are a daily occurance in the Aluetians. You are totally right about it being nothing like a hurricaine, but it just give normal people something to compare the storm to when there really isnt any comparison at all. I'm glad you and I think the same about things.
Take care,

February 25, 2010 at 9:27 pm

A.J. DeYoung

Janice...funny you called me Sunshine. that is what my best Aussie Mate calls me and it just melts my heart...............
Was watching with the snow cascading down behind Megyn and it looks soooo cold, hopefully guys, this will be the last hooray.....as seen myMargie's pictures, can't keep spring down.
JB....hope you have a understanding wife.....thank you for your thoughtfulness and caring...my heart is touched beyond words, everyone I tell what you guys are doing is just in unbelief..just wait till I tell Jordan the manager at our ChickFil A. JB...you know I guess I will still have to root for those Cubbies, but 2nd in line will be my Cards....
Hope you all have a really nice warm and cozy evening and that the sun will come out tomorrow and melt it all away.
Our local weatherman is John Coleman originally from GMA and weather channel orginator and he is always tell us the way it really is as our local other guys hype it most of the time and John is usually right on. Can you believe tomorrow is Friday already?????????????? Love, AJ

Tn~Deb

Tn~Deb

Hey Janice and All,
Happy to hear you enjoyed your day-off!
It finally stopped snowing a little while ago and the sun came out. We have a grand total of 3 inches, which makes it snowfall #12. I hate to complain, but it feels like it has been winter Forever! I will remember all the snow and cold temperatures in July and August when I start moaning about the Heat! haha
I have dealt with Health Insurance Company's many times when my mom and brother were sick. After many headaches and heartaches, verbal and written battles, they usually received what they needed. But, I know so many that haven't been that fortunate. It's a shame...and very sad. Healthcare is a timeless issue...it will always have room for improvement.
As far as the "Weather Words"...I sometimes watch the Weather Channel...(mostly for a good chuckle)..and I have to say, some of the anchor's get so excited over the craziest stuff. And use some of the weird weather words too. JD, you are the best there is IMO!
Have a great day everybody....it's almost Friday :)
Deb

February 25, 2010 at 12:48 pm

Tn~Deb

Hey Janice and All,
Happy to hear you enjoyed your day-off!
It finally stopped snowing a little while ago and the sun came out. We have a grand total of 3 inches, which makes it snowfall #12. I hate to complain, but it feels like it has been winter Forever! I will remember all the snow and cold temperatures in July and August when I start moaning about the Heat! haha
I have dealt with Health Insurance Company's many times when my mom and brother were sick. After many headaches and heartaches, verbal and written battles, they usually received what they needed. But, I know so many that haven't been that fortunate. It's a shame...and very sad. Healthcare is a timeless issue...it will always have room for improvement.
As far as the "Weather Words"...I sometimes watch the Weather Channel...(mostly for a good chuckle)..and I have to say, some of the anchor's get so excited over the craziest stuff. And use some of the weird weather words too. JD, you are the best there is IMO!
Have a great everybody....it's almost Friday :)
Deb

February 25, 2010 at 12:47 pm

JB in Texas

JD,
Glad to hear you enjoyed your day off yesterday with Matthew. Thanks again for the latest picture. He is growing and maturing SO much! I agree with you about some of the weather people who try to sensationalize their forecasts. I guess it is a ploy to improve their ratings. The heck with being responsible, not if you can get more viewers.
I also worry about the ongoing health care debate. It seems that whenever the Federal Govt. takes over anything, quality goes down and prices rise dramatically. I can not ever remember a program that the cost estimate was close to being accurate. I think it said a lot when a Canadian Official came the the U.S. for his treatment.
Some kind of tort reform must be put in place. A local doctor, recently retired, had started a free clinic for the poor here that has helped many in need. He had to stop helping at the clinic because he couldn't afford the malpractice insurance since his retirement. That is just wrong.
Enough ranting. I hope all are surviving their snow. The brief snow on Tuesday has melted here. AJ, I told my wife I was taking her out to dinner next Saturday(she doesn't know it is to Chick-Fil-A yet!). Hope all have a great day. JB

February 25, 2010 at 11:48 am

Don in Richmond

Janice
Your classy by not naming who says snowcane. I'm not. It's Accu weather.
In the blog last week I mentioned about visiting Laveck Canada. What I didn't mention was the fact i went there for a funeral. He had a severe headache and it took 4 months to get an MRI in Toranto and they found he has two brain tumors. He wanted another few months and got one removed and was told he had to wait another six months to get the second removed. "They couldn't remove two at the same time" He didn't make it. His sister, a friend of mine lived in Alberta. In Alberta that did not have that type of Canadian medical insurance. In Alberta they had pretty much what we have. She felt if he lived in Alberta instead of Ontario or in the states he would be alive today,

February 25, 2010 at 11:45 am

A.J. DeYoung

Thanks Margie and PJMan for those hugs, I got'em and right bach atcha, you guys will need them after all that fresh air and shoveling and manuering the roads, be safe. ()AJ On my way out to walk Sammy, sure wish I knew how to send you videos of that crazy, funny dog. xo

February 25, 2010 at 11:36 am

Kathie

Hi Janice,
Thank you so much for your testimony for our healtcare system. When we lived in Rochester, NY our neighbor worked in Canada and was tied to their healthcare system. She needed surgery and it took forever to get it. I, too, am very anxious about a healthcare bill. Also, I was very fortunate to travel from WV to HSS in New York city for knee replacements in 2004 and 2005. I had the best care and a wonderful surgeon, Dr. Haas at HSS. My insurance plan had no problem with my traveling to NY for my knee replacement.
Your little peanut is sooo adorable.
Love
Kathie

February 25, 2010 at 10:57 am

A.J. DeYoung

Good Morning JD and folks,
As always you looked great today and rested from your day off with little Sweet Pea, that last picture was the sweetest and just showed his personality through and through.
Clare and I have been forturnate to live where we do and the heathcare he has been given throughout all these tough years has been as if we were a king and queen. We are so blessed to have been in the Scripps health area, each specialist we have ever had headed by our family doctor has been along with our Medicare HMO, we could not have asked for it to be one bit better....he had the best care possible, by the best physicians here in San Diego area.
Will be thinking of all of you as you get blasted with more snow in the coming days and will pray for you safety in your travels and maybe....................this will be the last one.
Love, AJ

February 25, 2010 at 10:50 am

pjman

sorry for the spelling mistakes the plow come buy and scared the crap out of me. Hi AJ hope all is well and please send some of that warm air my way. big hugs to you. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) I like snow but this winter is ridiculous .

February 25, 2010 at 10:46 am

Margie Gacki

Hey Janice,
I caught your weather hit before the healthcare summit got started. I then turned the TV off because I don't think I can handle 6 hours of that mess. I'll listen to all the recaps and discussions this evening. It looks like things along the coast are pretty ugly in spots. We actually have the sun poking through the clouds every once in a while and there are a bunch of little blue patches in the sky. I don't see how the mountains are going to get 10-16 inches when there's hardly any snow on the radar. We shall see. One more thing--I agree with you about the storm hype. Those people who use those terms sound rather uneducated! People can be pretty ignorant sometimes.
Thanks for sharing about your experience with the Canadian healthcare system. It's good hearing personal stories. I hope we don't get anything like that in this country.
Hey to everyone else out there,
I hope everyone has a great day and that you all stay safe if you're in an area getting hit by ugly weather. Sending a big hug to AJ...
Margie

February 25, 2010 at 10:46 am

pjman

Hi Janice glad you made it to work ok. It's 30 some wind and a very wet heavy snow have about 6inches or so. I haven't been out side for a while I shoveled once already. You can rant all you want. I agree we have the best health care . I use to be in medical billing so I know both sides. Yes something needs to be done , but not what is on the table. That's my rant. I sent you a picture today. The weather man in our area is saying this will last till Saturday and we will get 1 to 2 feet. Oh bot I can't wait HA HA . hope all stay safe will check in later

February 25, 2010 at 10:42 am

aboutthis blog

Janice Dean joined FOX News Channel in January 2004 and currently serves as Senior meteorologist. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society and was awarded the AMS Seal of Approval in 2009. Dean is the author of the forthcoming children's book, "Freddy the Frogcaster" (Regnery Kids) which will be published in August. You can also follow Janice on Twitter.